Stock market today: Live updates

U.S. stock futures edged higher in early trade on Friday as traders looked ahead to the release of the widely expected September jobs report.

Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average Up 57 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 Index Futures and Nasdaq 100 Futures rose 0.3% and 0.4% respectively.

Economists polled by Dow Jones expected nonfarm payrolls to increase by 150,000, up from 142,000 in August. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.2%.

Barbara Doran, founder of BD8 Capital Partners, said employment data would only affect the market if it was lower than expected.

“I think tomorrow's number is important, but I don't think it's going to have a huge impact and I would be very surprised if it wasn't a good number,” she told CNBC's “The Closing Bell: Overtime” on Thursday. ” said Zhong. afternoon.

Rising geopolitical tensions have led to a shaky start for stock markets in October. Dolan added that these headwinds could cause stocks to move lower and end the week in negative territory.

All three major averages were on track to snap a three-week winning streak. The S&P 500 is down 0.7% so far this week, as is the Dow Jones. The Nasdaq is expected to fall 1.1% in that period.

CCrude oil prices rose 1.6% on Friday, adding to a 5% rise the day before. Oil prices rise as tensions rise in Middle East after Iran launches missile attack on Israel

Energy prices rose this week as oil prices rose, sending the S&P 500 up 5.9%. At this point, the industry is expected to post its biggest weekly gain in more than a year.

To be sure, one unresolved issue has been cleared after the high-profile port strike ended late Thursday as the International Longshoremen's Association and the American Maritime Union reached a tentative agreement on wages. The two sides also agreed to extend the existing contract until January to allow more time for further negotiations.